Fire-lighter



(No Model.)

0. P. HEAL. 'FIRE LIGHTER. No. 429,908. Patented-M11610, 1890.

WITNESSES: TOR 2 05m. Y @414. J? 1 01 .BYOAMB.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. HEAL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FIRE-LIGHTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,908, dated June 10, 1890.

Application filed August 24, 1889. Serial No. 321,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HEAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for lighting or starting fires in stoves. The object is to provide means for lighting coal fires without placing wood or other kindling in the stove.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of the device. Fig. 2 is a top View of same. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The box or holder A is here shown square, but may be of other shape. It may be made of sheet metal or may be cast in one piece, as preferred. It has a tubular handle B, one end of which enters one wall 0 and projects into the box, and the end of the tube which thus projects into the box has perforations cl. The end of the tubular handle has an elbow or upturned mouth 6, which is provided with a movable cover f. The handle has a slightlyinclined position with respect to the box. The box is packed with any suitable non-oombustible absorbent material G, such as iron sponge, porous brick, or asbestus. The absorbent material is covered by wire-gauze h, which is confined or keptin place by inturned flanges 2' around the top edge of the box. If the wire-gauze be omitted, as may be done, should any one so desire, the inturned flanges 2' would confine the absorbent material. A perforated metal plate may be used instead of gauze. A guard-plate at the handle side of the box projects above and covers that portion of the handle which adjoins the box and prevents that part of the handle from becoming unduly heated.

Oil is the fuel that is employed, and this is supplied to the tubular handle B, which thus serves as a fountain or receptacle. By moving the cover f oil may be poured into the mouth 6, and will flow from the perforations d into and will fill the absorbent material G. A lighted match placed close above the top of the box Awill ignite the oil or the vapor from the oil and produce a large flame. While this is burning the device is to be placed below the grate of the stove, where the fire is to be lighted. The device may be grasped by the handle B and the box A with the flame brought directly under the grate. The box may be supported in any suitable way. It may rest on a brick or it may be set in a wire swing, which can be looped or attached to the grate. This latter is not shown here, as the same forms no part of this invention.

By means of this device a hot flame can be produced and maintained long enough to light any kind of coal in a stove by applying the flame outside of the grate.

Having described my invention, I claim The combination, in a fire-lighter, of a box A, packed with absorbent material, the 1101- low handle or oil-receptacle B, extending into said box and fastened thereto by means of lugs and rivets and having openings d, leading into the box, and a guard-plate j, located on the top of the handle and at the rear of the box, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my siguatu re in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. HEAL.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. MORRIS, JNO. T. MADDoX. 

